Buddhism Dbq Research Paper

After the Han dynasty collapsed in 220 CE, China faced a period of political disunity, during that time Buddhism gained popularity with the Chinese people. Both foreign and Chinese monks were actively involved in establishing monasteries and lecturing on the Buddhist teachings. Many Chinese people accepted Buddhism and advocated its principles such as the philosophy and promise of afterlife over the Confucian ideals, but the truth was that Chinese people turned to Buddhism for its promises of eternal enlightenment during times of struggle. However, lots of people rejected the concept of Buddhism because it was a foreign influence, as well as a belief that it lowered the status of upper-class people. Nonetheless, many people converted to Buddhism because it allowed them to break out of the rigid hierarchy that Confucianism imposed, which is why it was common among the lower classes. Document 2, written by Zhi Dun, illustrates the reasons for the initial compatibility of Buddhism with the time period. Zhi is scholar who clearly admires Buddhism, who sees its value in correct observances in face of uncontrolled passion. Zhi Dun wrote how in times of upheaval, Buddhism presents a comforting worldview for Chinese scholars and aristocrats.

When the decline of Tang dynasty began, as mentioned by Han Yu in Document 4, spread of Buddhism was blamed for it by the imperial court.

However, in Document 5, Zong Mi, exemplifies attempts to allow both Buddhism and Confucianism to coincide peacefully. As Buddhism is under attack at the court, Zhi Dun tries to make the case (maybe to the Emperor) that Buddhism is not a threat to traditional Chinese social and political structures. He argues for the equality of beliefs and the social/political usefulness of all of the philosophies. Zong must emphasize that Buddhism poses no threat to the social order in order to counter Confucian arguments that Buddhism is

destabilizing.
The spread of Buddhism was similar to the way Christianity traveled throughout Europe. The development of Christianity and Buddhism were fairly separate, but their spread was nearly identical by traders and missionaries. Christians would model the Buddhist monks and build monasteries at centers of learning. It initially appealed to slaves, women, and the lower classes. The main similarity between the spread of Buddhism and Christianity is how both of religions had to go against opposing religion. The fall of Han dynasty led to Buddhism being accepted by many people in China, however, there were many people who still supported Confucianism and blamed Buddhism for all of the declines. In the case of Christianity, after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, distinctions between Orthodox Church and Catholic Church began to rise which later in history led to the spit of churches in 1054 CE. Strayer says “...Christian community was increasingly replaced by an awareness, of difference, competition…” (Strayer, 431). Both churches did not agree to the way of their belief just like Buddhism and Confucianism.